5 Steps to a 5: AP Calculus AB 2017 (2016)
STEP 1
Set Up Your Study Plan
CHAPTER 2
How to Plan Your Time
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test.
Key Idea
Choose the study plan that is right for you.
2.1 Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Calculus AB Exam
Overview of the Three Plans
No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. So you are the only one who can decide which approach you want and/or need to adopt to prepare for the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you to place yourself in a particular prep mode.
You are a full-year prep student (Approach A) if:
1. You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything far in advance … and I mean far … ;
2. You arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight because, “you never know when these planes might leave early …”;
3. You like detailed planning and everything in its place;
4. You feel you must be thoroughly prepared;
5. You hate surprises.
You are a one-semester prep student (Approach B) if:
1. You get to the airport 1 hour before your flight is scheduled to leave;
2. You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details;
3. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two is cool;
4. You’re always on time for appointments.
You are a six-week prep student (Approach C) if:
1. You get to the airport just as your plane is announcing its final boarding;
2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines;
3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve learned in your AP Calculus class;
4. You decided late in the year to take the exam;
5. You like surprises;
6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.
2.2 Calendar for Each Plan
A Calendar for Approach A:
A Year-Long Preparation for the AP Calculus AB Exam
Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Calculus AB exam you will take in May, this book can enrich your study of calculus, your analytical skills, and your problem-solving techniques.
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
_______ Determine into which student mode you would place yourself.
_______ Carefully read Steps 1 and 2.
_______ Get on the Web and take a look at the AP website(s).
_______ Skim the Comprehensive Review section. (These areas will be part of your year-long preparation.)
_______ Buy a few highlighters.
_______ Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit … Highlight it.
_______ Get a clear picture of what your own school’s AP Calculus curriculum is.
_______ Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning.
_______ Read and study Chapter 5 —Review of Precalculus.
_______ Read and study Chapter 6 —Limits and Continuity.
_______ Read and study Chapter 7 —Differentiation.
NOVEMBER (The first ten weeks have elapsed.)
_______ Read and study Chapter 8 —Graphs of Functions and Derivatives.
_______ Read and study Chapter 9 —Applications of Derivatives.
DECEMBER
_______ Read and study Chapter 10 —More Applications of Derivatives.
_______ Read and study Chapter 11 —Integration.
_______ Review Chapters 6 –8 .
JANUARY (Twenty weeks have now elapsed.)
_______ Read and study Chapter 12 —Definite Integrals.
_______ Review Chapters 9 –11 .
FEBRUARY
_______ Read and study Chapter 13 —Areas and Volumes.
_______ Take the Diagnostic Test.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MARCH (Thirty weeks have now elapsed.)
_______ Read and study Chapter 14 —More Applications of Definite Integrals.
_______ Review Chapters 12 –14 .
APRIL
_______ Take Practice Exam 1 in first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Review Chapters 6 –14 .
MAY— First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Take Practice Exam 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!
A Calendar for Approach B:
A Semester-Long Preparation for the AP Calculus AB Exam
Working under the assumption that you’ve completed one semester of calculus studies, the following calendar will use those skills you’ve been practicing to prepare you for the May exam.
JANUARY
_______ Carefully read Steps 1 and 2.
_______ Read and study Chapter 6 —Limits and Continuity.
_______ Read and study Chapter 7 —Differentiation.
_______ Read and study Chapter 8 —Graphs of Functions and Derivatives.
_______ Read and study Chapter 9 —Applications of Derivatives.
FEBRUARY
_______ Read and study Chapter 5 —Review of Precalculus.
_______ Read and study Chapter 10 —More Applications of Derivatives.
_______ Read and study Chapter 11 —Integration.
_______ Take the Diagnostic Test.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Review Chapters 6 –9 .
MARCH (Ten weeks to go.)
_______ Read and study Chapter 12 —Definite Integrals.
_______ Read and study Chapter 13 —Areas and Volumes.
_______ Read and study Chapter 14 —More Applications of Definite Integrals.
_______ Review Chapters 10 –12 .
APRIL
_______ Take Practice Exam 1 in first week of April.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Review Chapters 6 –14 .
MAY— First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Take Practice Exam 2.
_______ Score yourself.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!
A Calendar for Approach C:
A Six-Week Preparation for the AP Calculus AB Exam
At this point, we are going to assume that you have been building your calculus knowledge base for more than six months. You will, therefore, use this book primarily as a specific guide to the AP Calculus AB exam.
Given the time constraints, now is not the time to try to expand your AP Calculus curriculum. Rather, it is time to limit and refine what you already do know.
APRIL 1st–15th
_______ Skim Steps 1 and 2.
_______ Skim Chapters 6 –10 .
_______ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapters 6 –10 .
_______ Take the Diagnostic Test.
_______ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
APRIL 16th–MAY 1st
_______ Skim Chapters 11 –14 .
_______ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapters 11 –14 .
_______ Complete Practice Exam 1.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MAY— First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
_______ Complete Practice Exam 2.
_______ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
_______ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
_______ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!
Summary of the Three Study Plans
